Chair having a tilting seat and back unit



P. A. JAMES 2,532,453

Dec. 5, 1950 CHAIR HAVING A TILTING SEAT AND BACK UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 18, 1946 Dec. 5, 1950 P. A. JAMES 2,532,453

CHAIR HAVING A TILTING SEAT AND BACK UNIT Filed Sept. 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 53 8 34 43 QI?, 3@ 9 i /fz La /14 54 8 f/\ Inventor 2. 9 Paz/f A. (fa/nea.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED TATESS '0l"F,liCllI 2,532,453,- oima mman riminestars-uo l BACK UNITv .Paula-James, Louisville, .Kyiv Application September 18, .1943, 'Sei-infilo. s973225 (or. leeuw) 6- Glaiins.

-1 y The present invention relatesfto an improved construction cfa platform rocker and lmore specifically pertains to a novel fulcrum -or pivoting connection between the platform andthe chair seat and back unit together with an improved adjusting means for lshifting the position of vsaid fulcro-um to suit the convenience of the user.

The principal objects vof this invention are to provide a platform rocker having an adjustable Lf-ulcrunl 'pivotally connecting the platform and the vrocker uniti to provide an improved `and eilicacious structure for supporting the fulcrum and' Lforxpermitting 'longitudinal shifting of the point of fulcrum support; and to provide a construe* tion. of the character hereinbefore mentioned f which is particularly adapted tofi'naintain the fulcrum in its adjusted position until the vsame ismanuallyi'varied by the operator.

` .morals `indicate similar parts throughout 'the lseveral views, and wherein:

Figure Lisaside elevational View of the platform rocker; y

Figurev 2 is a front elevational view of the* device shown-inv Figure 1; e

Figure `3 is atop `plan'view of Figure 1;

V`Figure `i is a rear elevational view of Figure'lj;

Figure-.5 is a vertical sectional View taken .substantially-npon the section "line 5 5 of Figure A2;

Figure 6 is a `vertical"sectional View taken substantially upon the section line 6--6 of Figure l;

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustratingthe platform rocker;

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing a detail .of construction and is taken substantially upon the section line 8--8 of Figure 6; and,

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8 but taken substantially upon the section line 9--9 of Figure 6, with the cover plate removed.

Attention is now directed more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein numeral I0 designates generally the platform, or supporting frame, forming the base of the invention while I2 designates as an entirety the combined, rigid, seat and back unit of the rocker. The supporting frame or platform may conveniently consist of a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending support members I4 and I6 which are joined and supported in any suitable manner, and which are associated with arm supable-inanner as shown. Theiraine support inembers |14- and yIfI `are' yprovided Ywith I"transversely aligned and registering apertures -22 and 244 respectively; These 'apertures are identically formed and as short/ri in Figure 9, rare-gern'arally of `an invertedhea'rt shape. These aperturesl'each consist ora :pair .or longitudinally spaced notches 26 and 2B, which have a dividing .rib 3o. ,therebetween fforzapurpose to rhe'later :set forth.

The. combined seat: and. back `unit indicated r,generally :at I2, `comprises, a. generally rectangular seat -portion including va `ip'air of. paralle1,.laterally spaced and longitudinallyiextending 4supeport members 34 and 36, which are` Asuitably braced and. reinforcedA as desiredand which have rigidly attached. thereto ageneral-ly rectangular back member v38. rlhe `seat -:unit is soproportioned as to snugly -t within-the ooninesfof the platformv member,y with the llateral` supportmembers of the. seat disposed between-.and in parallel relation to the corresponding laterally spaced supportmembers of their-amei As yshown in det'ail inFi'gure 8 each4 ofthevlatelnalV support :mem bers of the seat. unit-,is`r provided` with an aperture 40, these apertures being/in transversexalignment with each other vand being` adapted toreg'ister with theaperturesi 22 .and 24 'inthe frame support .members I4 and I6. ,As will-beevident, the apertures 4I)` are identical to those of the frame members, but are arrangedv in anY inverse position, whereby, Ias As'hownfbes't in. Figures 8 and 9, the sets. Aof ,longitudinally spaced notches 42 and'` 44 of theapertures 40 are adapted tov co operate with the corresponding notches 26 and 28 of the apertures 22 and 24, to provide a substantially cylindrical or circular bearing for a purpose to be later set forth. As shown in Figure 8, the notches 42 and 44 have a downwardly extending dividing rib 46 therebetween, whereby the apertures 40 are substantially identical to but inverted in respect to the apertures 22 and 24.

A rod, 48, forming an axle or fulcrum extends through each of the apertures 22 and 24 and 40 and is adapted to selectively seat within the aligned apertures 26 or 28 formed in the frame members I4 and I6 and to support by seating engagement thereon the selective transversely aligned apertures 42 or 44 in the frame members of the seat unit supporting members 34 and 36. Suitable spring members 50 which may be in the form of coil springs, are secured to the forward end of the chair seat unit and the platform, in order to yieldingly urge the chair unit into the customary position for use. A pull chain 52 has one end anchored to the fulcrum or axle 48 intermediate the ends thereof, and extends through a suitable aperture 53 in the rear of the seat unit and terminates in a ring 54 to facilitate actuation by the user.

As Will be readily understood, the downward Weight of the seat unit assisted by the tension of the springs 5t, causes the selected notches 42 and 44 of the seat unit to engage theupper vsurface of the fulcrum or rod 43, and by reason of the depending rib 46 tends to maintain the ulcrum in its selected set of notches. When the rod is shifted to the other set of notchesit will be seen that the fulcrum of the rockerhas been adjusted longitudinally of the support frame members and consequently the Seat unit will assume a diierent inclined position for a given Weight of occupant.

By reason of the relatively reversely disposed heart-shaped apertures of the seat unit support members and the platform support members, it will be seen that a pair of longitudinally spaced uicrum journal bearings has been provided which may be selectively engaged by the supporting dowel or pivot axle.

I desire at this point to call attention to the z simplied manner of installing and assembling' the fulcrum in the seat and platform units. For

.this purpose, the axle 48 may be laterally inserted from either side of the support members lli, i E, S4 and 36, andwhen installed in position, may be retained therein as by suitable cover plates 5t secured as desired to the outside of the platform support members I 4 and I6 to cover the apertures 22 and 24.

I claim:

1. A rocker comprising a supporting frame, a seat and back unit, pivot means mounting said seat and back unit upon said supporting frame, means for adjusting the position of said pivot means, said frame including spaced lateral supporting members, said seat including spaced lateral members parallel to and received withinv said frame supporting members, said pivot means including an axle' mounted in said frame lateral members and said seat lateral members, each Yof said lateral members having a set of contiguous axle receiving notches, the sets of notches in said frame lateral members being inversely positioneren.

but registering with the sets of notches in saidV seat lateral members.

2. A rocker comprising a supporting frame, a seat and back unit, pivot means mounting said seat and back unit upon said supporting frame, means for adjusting the position of said pivot 4 means, said frame including spaced lateral sup` porting members, said seat including spaced lateral members parallel to and received within said frame supporting members, said pivot means including an axle mounted in said frame lateral members and said seat lateral members, each of said lateral members having a set of contiguous axle receiving notches, the sets of notches in said frame'lateral members beingV inversely positioned l0 but registering with the sets of notches in said seat lateral members, and spring means connecting said supporting frame and said seat unit and biasing said seat unit into its normal position.

3. A rocker comprising a supporting frame, a seat and back unit, said seat and frame including spaced lateral supporting members, notches including a dividing rib and forming semi-spheres in said seat, notches including a dividing rib and forming semi-spheres in said frame, said notches being in inverted spaced aligned relation lto Aform circular bearings and an axle mounted in said seat and frame bearings for adjustable rocking movement of said seat.

4. A rocker comprising a supporting frame, a seat and back unit, said seat and frame including spaced lateral supporting members, heart :1 goed notches in said frame, inverted heart aped notches in said seat, said notches being in ace-l aligned position and forming circular arings, axle mounted transversely in said seat and frame bearings for adjustable rocking movement of said seat, and cover plates secured on said support members over the notches therein.

5. rThe combination of claim 4 wherein tension means are secured in said frame and seat for limiting movement of said rocker.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein tension means are secured in said frame and seat' for limiting movement of said rocker.

PAUL A. JAMES.

REFERENCES CITED 'She following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

